Support for vitreous bars



10, 1931. w KOERING 1,791,929

SUPPORT FOR VITREOUS BARS Filed Dec. 22, 1927 INVENTOR v guszach/w M fl oe/"my Irma;

ATT RNEY Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES EUSTACHIUS w. xonnrne, or VINE AND, NEW JE SEY SUPPORT FOR vfrnnons BARS j Application filed December 22, 1 9 27.f Serial No. 241,832.

This invention relates to a towel bar composed of glass or other vitreous material and more particularly to a novel support or bracket therefor which the bar may be supported from a wall or other surface.

In a copending application Serial No. 754,705, filed December 9, 1924, and entitled Towel bar, I have disclosed a towel bar-composed of glass, having its ends bent inwardly so as to extend normally to a wall or similar surface, and having such ends, secured in a hollow metal bracket. Each of the ends of the bar is provided with a cii'ciin'iferential groove and a spring retaining member separate from the bracket is disposed therein and engages said groove to retain the bar within the bracket. A bead or'other form of abutment is also formed onithe glass bar spaced from the groove so as to abut against the end ofthe hollow bracket to overlay the opening therein and to assist in holding the bar rigidly in place in the bracket.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel supporting bracket for a glass bar of this nature by which the glass bar maybe rigidly supported and in which .the spring reta ning member may be dispensed with and a more economical construction provided.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds. Y

In accordance with my invention I provide each end of the vitreous bar with an annular head or enlargement and with a circumferential groove spaced at difierent distances from the ends of the bar. The method of producing these deformations in the bar is disclosed in another copending application Se- 1 rial No. 198,727, filed June 4, 1927, andentitled Method and apparatus for shaping glass rods. Briefly, the method disclosed in said application comprises subjecting the end portions of the rods to a prolonged and gradually increasing heat treatment extending beyond the zone to be reshaped in a decreasing temperature gradient sufficiently gradual to prevent disruptive strains in the glass. This preheating is followed by a more intense local heating at the desired zone to render the rod plastic so that it'mav be tooled into the proper shape. 1

A metal bracket isprovided comprising a hollow shell of substantially truncatedconical form, havingan axially arranged'sleeve integral therewith, projecting from the apex end of said bracket inwardly towards the base. The deformed end'of the vitreous rod is received within the axially arranged sleeve with the abutment of said bar resting against the outerend of the bracket. The sleeve is then expanded into the circumferential groove in the bar'so as tolock the bar and bracket rigidly together.- 1 i In order that the invention may be more fully understood,reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation partly'in section of the towel bar and bracket embodying my inve1'1tion,applied to a wall; a j i Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bracket; and

I Fig; 3" is a sectional view of the bracket prior to being secured'to the vitreous bar. 1

Figure 1 discloses a towel bar of glass or other 'vitreous readily frangible material which it is desired to secure to a wall surface 11. The ends 12 and 18 of the bar are bent inwardly so as to extend normally to :the wall 11 and are received in a pair of spaced brackets 14 and 15 by which the bar is supported. Each of the brackets 14 and 15 is composed of a hollow metal shell' 16 of substantially frusto-conical shape having an integral sleeve 17 extending from the outerend inwardly toward the base 18 and in which the end portion 19 of the vitreous bar is positioned. Of.

course, this bracket may take other forms without departing from the invention.

x The bar lhas an annular head or abutment 20 formed adjacent each of the inwardly turned ends 12 and 13 which abutment seats against the outer edge 21 of the bracket. This bead closes the opening in the sleeve 17 against entrance of dirt and moisture, and prevents longitudinal movement of the bar in one direction. A cirmumferential groove 22 is also formed in each of. the ends'of the bar, in the portion thereof within the sleeve 17 and after assembly of the bracket in the end of the'bar and sleeved? is deformed as at 23, by crimping or expanding of the metal into the groove 22 to firmly lock the bar Within the bracket. The sleeve 17 is in engagement with the bar from adjacent the bead 20 to the end-24 thus forming an extensive supporting surface and holding the rod rigidly and permanently in place.

A pair of openings 25 may be provided to secure the bracket to the wall.

I am aware, of course, that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms with-' out departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and I therefore desire that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

lVhat is claimed is:

l. The combination with a vitreous bar having a circumferential depression formed adjacent one end and an annular enlargement spaced therefrom, of a hollow metal bracket enclosing the end of said bar with the enlargement on said bar disposed against the outer end thereof, said bracket having an imperforate tubular portion extending inwardly from said outer end in engagementwith said bar and having a substantially rigid portion extending into said circumferential depression in fixed contact with the bar to lock the bar against longitudinal movement in the bracket.

2. The combination with a vitreous bar having a circumferential depression formed adjacent one end, an annular enlargement spaced therefrom and an intermediate tubular portion of a hollow metal bracket enclosing the end of said bar with the enlargement on said bar disposed against the outer end thereof, said hollow bracket having disposed therein an integral tubular portion coextensive with said enclosed end and having a substantially ri id portion extending into said circumferential groove, in fixed contact with the bar, to lock the bar against longitudinal movement in the bracket.

3. The combination with a vitreous bar having a recess adjacent one end and an annular enlargement spaced from said recess, of a hollow metal bracket adapted to be secured to a wall surface, said bracket having therein a continuous tubular portion extending substantially normal to said wall surface, and embracing the recessed end of said bar, with the enlargement of the bar abutting against the outer end of said tubular member, said tubular member having a non-resilient substantially rigid portion extending into said recess, in fixed contact with the bar, to secure the bar rigidly within the bracket.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 25th day of November,

EUSTACHIUS lV. KOER-ING. 

